Councillor Bailey-Lee Robb (SNP), representing Cowdenbeath, has formally written to Fife Council’s Head of Planning, Climate and Sustainability Service, calling for a full assessment of a potential bypass route for Cowdenbeath High Street to be incorporated into the Local Development Plan process.

The proposal was also a key part of the recent Local Place Plan published by My Cowdenbeath CIC, with locals pushing for radical change in the area to address major infrastructure issues.

Cllr Robb’s letter follows an exchange in the Council Chamber on 14 May 2026, during which the proposal was raised with the Spokesperson for Finance, Economy and Strategic Planning.

Cowdenbeath High Street has long been identified as a significant bottleneck for vehicles and public transport passing through the town, with congestion affecting journey times and the general amenity of the High Street for residents, businesses and visitors.

Councillor Robb is calling for a bypass route to be explored that would potentially link Lumphinnans to the southern end of Cowdenbeath near the A92 – a proposal that has been raised locally for some time and is widely seen as offering the potential to significantly ease pressure on the town centre.

Speaking to Radio Cowdenbeath, Councillor Robb said:

“The congestion on Cowdenbeath High Street has long been a frustration for local people for far too long. An effective bypass could make a real difference – not just for traffic, but for the whole feel of our town centre. It could also spur on a renewed drive in the High Street. Beyond that, it could open up both the Lumphinnans and Cowdenbeath areas for new development and economic growth, which is exactly what our communities need.”

“I’ve written to the Head of Planning to ask how this proposal can be formally assessed as part of the Local Development Plan, and I’m calling on officers to engage meaningfully with the local communities and stakeholders on this. The level of frustration for real action is clear, and it is time that bold action is reflected in the planning process.”

The Local Development Plan process provides a formal mechanism through which such proposals can be considered, assessed and potentially progressed. Cowdenbeath’s Local Place Plan will be formally considered as part of this process. Councillor Robb has requested that officers outline the steps required for a full and robust assessment of this proposal to be carried out.

My Cowdenbeath Director, Stuart Duffy, who also compiled the Local Place Plan based on more than 3,000 resident comments, said:

“There’s been significant investment in the strategic housing developments at Duloch and Kirkcaldy over the past two decades, but our High Street and Town Centre continue to face real challenges and that’s just not fair for the people who live and work here. We all know the issue with traffic flow through the High Street at time and we had to tackle Fife Council’s Local Transportation Plan for the town which sought to remove more layby’s recently – so yes, a road linking Lumphinnans with the dual-carriageway would provide a much-needed alternative route for locals to avoid delays in the High Street. It’s in the Local Place Plan which means it could make it into Fife’s Development Plan being produced shortly.

“As a local I know there are also frustrations travelling North too, so the option of a junction linking the Cuddyhouse Road to the motorway would be fantastic for the town and for the development of our local economy.

“But any development of new roads cannot be at the expense of local businesses in our town centre or risk reducing footfall any further. We can and should be able to do both – provide investment in key road infrastructure AND invest in our town centre to make it more attractive. Council services should be there to deliver what the local people want for their area, so we look forward to constructive discussions. This is what we’ll be pushing for.”

You can read the recently published Cowdenbeath Local Place Plan or Community Action Plan on the My Cowdenbeath website.